Abstract
The serum IgA response to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection was investigated in relationship to IgG serology in cardiac transplant recipients in order to investigate its diagnostic usefulness. Of 19 patients studied 12 were found to have rising titres of IgG antibody to HCMV. Within this group a transitory IgA response with a variable duration (mean of 42 days) was detected in six patients with primary infection and in none of the patients with pre-existing IgG antibody undergoing a reactivation of, or re-infection with, HCMV. No IgA antibody was detected in four patients with constant levels of IgG antibody. An antiglobulin response measured by passive haemagglutination was concurrent with the IgA response. When analysed by solid phase binding assay, serial sera from four of five patients studied were found to have both an IgM anti IgG and an IgA anti IgG component to the antiglobulin response. The specificity of the HCMV-IgA response was, however, confirmed, because treatment of sera to remove antiglobulin failed to abrogate virus specific antibody.
Published Version
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